In the hours after America learned it had lost Dolly Parton, her family shared one final message from the country legend — and it couldn’t have been more fitting.

“I will always love you.”

The words were shared through Dolly’s official social media account and in a message from her nephew, Bryan Seaver, following the announcement that she had passed away peacefully in Nashville at age 80.

For longtime fans, those five words carry enormous meaning. Dolly wrote “I Will Always Love You” decades ago as a farewell to her professional partner Porter Wagoner. The song eventually became one of the most recognizable compositions of her extraordinary career.

Now, those same words are serving as Dolly’s farewell to the millions of people who loved her.

Her family has requested privacy and plans to hold a small service for immediate relatives.

After more than six decades of music, movies, laughter and generosity, perhaps there couldn’t have been a more appropriate final message from Dolly.

“I will always love you.” And millions of fans will always love her, too.